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Chain crash closes I-70 for 2 hours

A seven-vehicle accident in icy conditions closed Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon for more than two hours Monday morning.

The Colorado State Patrol said the accident occurred about 5:45 a.m. about four miles east of Glenwood Springs when an eastbound semi went out of control. The truck, driven by Michael Shaw, 38, of Delta hit a guardrail, spun several times and came to a stop around a blind corner, blocking the right lane.

A pickup ran into the semi, then was hit by a third vehicle. A fourth vehicle that came onto the scene was struck by a fifth. A sixth vehicle — another semi — hit the first semi, then a seventh hit the second semi’s trailer.

The driver of the third vehicle left the scene immediately, while the other six vehicles partially blocked the eastbound lanes. Two had to be towed.

All of the drivers and occupants of the vehicles were wearing seat belts and no one was injured. Shaw was cited for careless driving.

I-70 in the canyon was closed for a little more than two hours while the crash scene was cleared.

The Colorado State Patrol reported numerous crashes in Garfield County on Monday, including on Interstate 70 and Colorado Highway 82, as a result of icy conditions. An accident in South Canyon on I-70 west of Glenwood Springs resulted in one person being taken to a hospital with minor injuries.